Arsenal made Viktor Gyokeres U-turn for two reasons after Benjamin Sesko talks

Arsenal have remained determined to add a new striker to their squad this summer having reduced their shortlist to Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko and there now appears to be an outstanding candidate

Arsenal resumed talks with Viktor Gyokeres after failing to agree a fee for alternative target Benjamin Sesko, it has been revealed. The Gunners had both forwards on their shortlist this summer, with Mikel Arteta keen to add a new striker to his squad.

Their attention has seemingly alternated between the two throughout the summer transfer window. But it now appears that Sporting Lisbon star Gyokeres is right at the front of the queue.

Arsenal are in advanced talks with their Portuguese counterparts over a deal having already thrashed out personal terms with Gyokeres himself. It leaves a deal for Sesko looking highly unlikely.

According to the Independent, Gunners chief Andrea Berta moved on from the Slovenian due to Leipzig’s lofty demands of around €80m to complete a deal. Arsenal were reportedly €10m away from that asking price, while the structure of a move also left North London bosses dissatisfied.

Meanwhile, personal terms with the striker also proved to be problematic, forcing Arsenal to abandon talks entirely. Elsewhere, Sesko’s agent Elvis Basanovic has also been asked about the Gunners contemplating moves for both forwards.

He suggested that Sesko would have been the better option for Arsenal, while also firing a subtle dig at Gyokeres for his attempts to get out of Sporting Lisbon. Speaking with Give Me Sport, he said: “Let me tell you: Sesko is not competing with anyone.

“It’s him vs him every day. We have a clear plan for the future and media speculation doesn’t affect us. Sesko is not just a striker, he is a special striker.”

He added: “Even if there may be - or will be - a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig. I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.

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“I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests but no matter what, I believe in football world should be more respect. So that’s why we do things in the right way or we don't do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”

Regardless of which striker Arsenal sign, Mikel Arteta is keen to get a deal over the line sooner rather than later. The Spaniard wants a new forward to be signed before Arsenal fly to Singapore for a pre-season tour of Asia on July 19, meaning the vast majority of negotiations would have to be concluded way before that date.